The male robin keeps the same territory throughout the year. A succession of broods follow until June. First, the female must gain weight to prepare her body for mating and incubating her eggs. Robins have a courtship ritual that involves the male feeding the female. During feeding, the young make chirping sounds but these calls can only be heard a short distance away. When the female is sitting on the nest she is silent and moves slowly since she doesn't want predators to find the nest. Once a female bird is receptive to a mate, whether it is a new mate every breeding season or simply renewing ties with a life-long partner, the actual mating can take place.The positions and postures birds assume to mate can vary, but the most common is for the male bird to balance on top of the female. Where Do They Nest? Nesting Both the male and female sing during the winter, when they hold separate territories, the song then sounding more plaintive than the summer version. Robins are natural ground feeders, so feeding trays are ideal. She builds with a collection of twigs and mud but may use string, cloth or paper if she can find them. They are primarily fed insects but will also eat fruit later in life. Watch Out! Robins, both males and females, hold their own separate feeding territories in the winter, which they defend vigorously. But an injured or dying female robin might leave her nest for good, for the male to take care of the chicks. Both male and female robins will feed the young. Both parents are very protective of their young and feed them until they know how to fly by themselves. Initially, they do not spend much time together, merely tolerate one another, but will remain together until the following autumn moult. Both the male and female sit on the eggs, sharing their incubation duties. How the unmated male distinguishes a potential mate from trespassing Robins … If she had to continue to hunt, it would be difficult for her to gain enough weight. Male may tend the fledged young while female begins second nesting attempt. Males have a dark gray to almost black back and tail with a rust/brick colored breast, while the female is paler all over. Parents very aggressive in defense of nest. The male brings food to the female which she then passes on to the chicks. In feeding the young, both the male and female robins assume responsibility. The male is responsible for helping to feed the nestlings when hatched. Fledgling Romance: Why Some Birds Feed their Mates By Erin Weeks, August 19, 2013 A male northern cardinal feeds a juvenile (Courtesy Rüdiger Merz) This is an installment of the Get to Know Your Backyard Birds series. By around Christmas, many will have paired up. The quintessential early bird, American Robins are common sights on lawns across North America, where you often see them tugging earthworms out of the ground. 2 broods per season, sometimes 3. Young: Both parents feed young, though female does more. Once hatched, both the male and the female will feed and care for the baby birds. They feed their nestlings with earthworms, insects and berries. Male robins are well known for … While the chickadee and nuthatch males feed their mates when they are incubating and brooding, and both adults feed the young. This ritual serves two main purposes. The female robin moves a short distance from the summer nesting territory to a nearby area that is more suitable for winter feeding. If she had to continue to hunt, it would be difficult for her to gain enough weight. Young What Do They Look Like? Will use a nesting platform. Juvenile robins have a … Make a mixture of bird seed, sunflower hearts and mealworms, sprinkle it out on a tray and wait for the robins to arrive. Make a mixture of bird seed, sunflower hearts and mealworms, sprinkle it out on a tray and wait for the robins to arrive.